Brazil Ministry Update

Greetings from Londrina, Brazil! I arrived in Londrina on June 9 and today, June 20, I am preparing to leave for three days in Marilha, São Paolo. São Paolo is the "New York" of Brazil, if you will - their largest city. Marilha is considered to be its own city (comparable to a burrough in N.Y.). My time in Londrina has been very pleasant. We had some bitter cold weather just after I arrived - the coldest I have ever experienced here in 14 visits over the past 13 years. It was getting down to 35 degrees F. at night, and because we are right on the Tropic of Capricorn, these homes are not equipped with entral heating; nor do they have portable heaters.
Therefore, it was multiple layers of clothes, very fast runs to the bathroom at night, and "Brrrr!" ~Gloria Deus! :0)

The ministry aspect regarding missions is going slower than I had hoped, but I am not discouraged, because in additon to preaching to 3 congregations and teaching at the meeting for the Cell Group leaders, I have had some real quality time to share with the leadership of all 14 congregations here about the visison for the Brazileiros to raise up and send forth missionaries to the world. In every service and at every opportunity, I share the vision for Misisons for the churches of Brazil to send forth missionaries to the U.S. and to 4 Corners of the Earth. (This was the vision the Lord gave me while speaking at a city-wide Youth Rally here in Londrina in 2004). They have a weekly TADEL meeting (Training and Development of Evangelico Leaders). I had the privelege to speak to these key leaders last week and am scheduled to do so again for "part 2" next week when I reutrn to Londrina from Marilha.

This trip to Marilha is significant, because it is my first "in-road" into the churces in that part of the ocuntry, and Pastor Enoc (senior pastor here in Londrina of The Baptist Church of Glory) has informed me that (somehow) the word has already begun to go forth in other areas of São Paolo about the vision the Lord has given us, and I have an invitation for another large church in that city when I return next year. In Marilha I will speak at a Youth rally on Saturday night followed by a special service to the church's leadership. (Youth Rallys here are really "Awesome!" All of the teens sit in the front rows; seated all over the floor in front of the teens are their younger beothers and sister, and seated behind them are their parents an d grandparents, praying for their young people and cheering them on. Can you imagine the Joy ~ the release of the power of the Holy Spirit that comes upon us all in such a setting? Wow!)

Sunday night I will speak to the full church at their services at 5:00 and 7:00. (In Brazil, the Sunday School and special classes for leadership training are held in the morning, and the large Celebration Services are in the evening. This is truly a "later in the day" culture than we experience as Americanos. :)

The enemy has sent his "little foxes to spoil the vine" with a lot of "techno-attack" strategies - you know, problems and glitches with computer, e-mail, etc., blah, blah :). He is so lame! All glory to Jesus Christ, O Senhor do senhores e O Rei dos reis (the Lord of lords and the King of kings). He deserves all honor, glory, adoration and all of our attention and focus in todas coisas em nossas vidas (everything in our lives). I love it!

God is blessing me with a constant flow of revelations and insights in the Word. The pastors here are extremely interested in and focused on seeking the Lord for revival - more than at any time I have ever experienced with them (silly me, duh - I thought they were in revival!) Ah, well - as I sensed the depths of their hearts I began focusing all of my time and energy on aggressively seeking the Lord in prayer, and the result is that in every moment of my free times, other than devotional reading and Bible study and prayer, I have begun to put together what the Lord has been revealing to my heart.

The Lord knew of the Enemy's "techno-attack" strategy before he ever began to put it into play against me, because I had a sense that I needed to take a thumb drive with me; I purchased a 4 gig unit just before I left the States and keep it with me at all times so that I can back up everything that I put into the computer. (Take that, diablo - Sai, em o nome do Senhor Jesus ~ Take that, devil - GO, in the name of the Lord Jesus! - Yeah!)

I would like to post a special word of thanks to Patrick Poer and Kaleb Captain of Nora Christian Fellowship and to my two sons, Bryndon and Jason, who really helped me to take another step into the 21st regarding my abilities to work with and progressive (albeit slow) learning curve to enable me to communicate with you through this blog while still in Brazil. I have the full assurance that this progress will continue post haste when I return to the States and continue recieve their excellent tutoring. Thank you, guys! Praise God!

I love and appreciate you all so much!! Thank you for your financial, emotional, and spiritual support, for your love and friendship, and for your prayers to undergird and overshadow me and the ministry of Fresh Bread and especially for Mary Jane's health and safety while we are apart. You beloved Brothers and Sister in Christ mean far more to me than mere words can communicate! Deus Abencoe (God Bless You!).


In the Lamb ~ Bob Preston in Brazil
"My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His works." ~ John 4:34